International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 2016, Vol. 6, No. 11 ISSN: 2222-6990 566 www.hrmars.com The Effects of Power and Politics in Modern Organizations and its Impact on Workers’ Productivity Kehinde Gbolahan Somoye Department of Business Administration, Near East University. Near East Boulevard, Nicosia / TRNC. Mersin 10 – Turkey. Email: kehindeshow2013@yahoo.com DOI: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v6-i11/2442 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v6-i11/202442 Abstract In one aspect, power can be used to get a job done, on the other hand, it can also be used for the wrong reasons and politics is the influence gained from power. The effect of power in modern organizations depend on whether an employee uses the positive or negative type of power to control other employees. There is a focus on developing and using power in an organization because political behavior penetrates organizational life, and it often gives power to people who do not have it from their organizational position. There should be a balance in the use of power and politics in achieving organizational goals and objectives. Keywords: Political Behavior, Organizational life, Politics, Power, and Organization 1. Introduction According to an old saying: It is Ŷot the kŶoǁledge or skill LJou possess, it is aďout ǁho LJou kŶoǁ. The poǁer plaLJ aŶd politiĐs iŶ aŶ orgaŶizatioŶ is all aďout ďeiŶg ŶotiĐed and liked by the right people – the poǁers that ďe – to be able to get the right promotions and influence at the right time. Power may be defined as the ability, capability or right to be able to control people or things. It can also be defined as the political control of a country or a specific area, or an organization or a person that has a lot of influence and/or control over other people or organizations. It is also the ability to influence the flow of the available energy and resources towards certain goals as opposed to other goals. Power means different things to different people. Power is seen as corrupt for some people, while for others, the more or the greater the power they have, the more successful they always feel; while for others, they have no single interest in it. Power is an important concept, dynamic or variable in the behavior of an organization. It is the enablement to make someone to do things you want done or make something happen in the way you like or want it. The concept of power needs to be clearly distinguished from influence and authority. Influence is the ability to change the actions of other people in general ways by changing their criteria of satisfaction and therefore improving their performance and productivity. Influence is the outĐoŵe of edžerĐisiŶg poǁer. It is edžpressed ďLJ others ďehaǀioral respoŶse to LJour edžerĐise of power.